Satisfactory Academic Progress
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Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined below will not be eligible to receive financial aid from Federal, State, or College programs.
1. Students must maintain a specified cumulative grade point average to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Grades will be reviewed prior to the beginning of each term. Non-credit developmental courses will not be included in the cumulative grade point average.
Students must meet or exceed the following minimum cumulative grade point average:
1) After attempting 12 semester hours minimum, students must have attained a cumulative grade point average of 1.50.
2) After attempting 24 semester hours minimum, students must have attained a cumulative grade point average of 1.75.
3) After attempting 45 semester hours minimum, students must have attained a cumulative grade point average of 2.00.
2. Students may receive financial aid for a maximum of 94 attempted credit hours while pursuing an associate degree at Richard Bland College. Financial Aid recipients who have attempted 12 or more credit hours must successfully complete 66% of their cumulative credit hours attempted to maintain satisfactory academic progress. The percentage of hours successfully completed will be reviewed prior to the beginning of each term. Non-credit developmental courses will be included in this calculation and are treated no differently than credit courses. Withdrawals and audited courses are included in this calculation. However, students cannot use financial assistance to audit courses at registration.
For purposes of determining satisfactory academic progress the following policies apply:
- Credit hours successfully completed is defined as a grade of A,B,C,D, or P in a course.
- The number of credit hours attempted for a term is defined as a number of credit hours enrolled after the last day to add courses for that term.
- Incomplete "I" grades are calculated, as failing "F" grades until the course has been satisfactory completed.
- Courses taken during the summer sessions are treated the same as courses taken during the academic year and included into the cumulative percentage.
- Students are allowed to use financial assistance to repeat a course once.
Financial Aid recipients who fail to meet the above satisfactory academic progress requirements will be given written notice that their financial aid will be terminated.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Process
Any student who loses financial aid for failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress has the right to submit a written appeal to the Financial Aid Review Committee and have aid restored, if circumstances warrant. The appeal should document that your unsatisfactory academic progress was due to extenuating circumstances beyond your control. Financial need is not sufficient criteria on which to base your appeal. Documentation is required and must be attached to your appeal letter and submitted to the Financial Aid Office. The committee will meet prior to the beginning of each term.